Dennis Rodman Apologizes for CNN Outburst, Says He’d Been Drinking

Dennis Rodman prepares to check in for his flight to North Korea at Beijing's international airport on Jan. 6, 2014.

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Dennis Rodman apologized on Thursday for implying that Kenneth Bae—the American imprisoned in North Korea—may have done something to warrant his detention, the Associated Press reports.

"I want to apologize," the former NBA star relayed to the AP in a written statement through his publicist. "I take full responsibility for my actions. It had been a very stressful day. Some of my teammates were leaving because of pressure from their families and business associates. My dreams of basketball diplomacy was quickly falling apart. I had been drinking. It's not an excuse but by the time the interview happened I was upset. I was overwhelmed. It's not an excuse, it's just the truth.

"I want to first apologize to Kenneth Bae's family. I want to apologize to my teammates and my management team. I also want to apologize to Chris Cuomo. I embarrassed a lot of people. I'm very sorry. At this point I should know better than to make political statements. I'm truly sorry," he continued.

On Tuesday Rodman lashed out at Cuomo of CNN after being asked if he would use his unusual friendship with dictator Kim Jong Un to help free Bae, who was sentenced for “anti-state” crimes.

"Kenneth Bae did one thing," Rodman shouted at Cuomo during the interview, implying that Bae was guilty. "If you understand what Kenneth Bae did. Do you understand what he did in this country? No, no, no, you tell me, you tell me. Why is he held captive here in this country, why? ... I would love to speak on this."

Bae's sister, Terri Chung, expressed her anger at the comments on Wednesday, saying that Rodman had no idea what he was talkin about.

"Here's somebody who is in a position to do some good for Kenneth and refuses to do so," Chung told Seattle’s KOMO Radio. "And then after the fact, instead, he decides to hurl these unqualified accusations against Kenneth. It's clear he has no idea what he's talking about. I'm not sure who he's talking to, where he's getting his information, but he's certainly no authority on Kenneth Bae."